A HUGE bin collection change affecting 100,000 Brits could hit in weeks.
West Berkshire Council (WBC) is weighing up collecting general rubbish every three weeks in a bid to increase the amount of waste it recycles and composts.
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The authority says a monthly black bin collection was “not deemed practicable” due to potential impact of residents.
A six-week consultation on its draft Waste Management Strategy runs until November 6.
The council said its recycling rate has risen from 49% to 54% over the last year.
“However, there’s more we can do – 22% of black bin waste is still made up of food waste, with another 20% made up of recyclable material that could be collected at the kerbside.
“With initiatives like weekly food waste collections, vape and coffee pod recycling, the collection of plastic pots, tubs and trays at the recycling centres, and more mini recycling centres across the district for small electrical items, cartons and textiles, we’re on track for even greater improvements.”
The draft strategy aims to cut residual waste to 120kg per person by 2042, and increase recycling to at least 60% by 2030.
WBC has pointed to Bracknell Forest Council as an example of the once every three week collection strategy – something implemented across most Welsh council areas.
Councillour Stuart Gourley, WBC Executive Member for Environment and Highways, said: “We are really excited to get your views on our draft Waste Management Strategy.
“This plan sets out our strategy and vision for a more sustainable future in how we manage our waste and resources and how we continue to improve our recycling services up until 2032.”
Different options for recycling containers are also being looked at including elastic nets or lids for the current boxes to stop recycling rubbish escaping on windy days, reports the BBC.
Another idea is a system of stackable boxes on wheels which have flaps in them to post rubbish without unstacking them.
A decision is set to be made by early next year.
The Sun has contacted the council for comment.
Rubbish collection madness as councils force Brits to sort waste into as many as TEN different bins
POTTY councils force households to sort rubbish into as many as ten bins — in waste separation systems branded “mind-bogglingly complex”.
Town halls, between them, have the baffling array including containers for general waste and recycling alongside niche battery and coffee pod categories.
To make matters worse, almost seven in ten local authorities now charge extra for rubbish disposal services, such as garden waste collection, the TaxPayers’ Alliance study found.
Among ten-bin councils are Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil in Wales which, at six, is the nation with the highest average for bin collections.
England — where Cotswold in Gloucs is another ten-bin council — Scotland and Northern Ireland all averaged four.
Gosport in Hants has, with two, fewest bins for collection said the study which follows an unfulfilled government pledge last year to cut the number of bins in England to three.
TaxPayers’ Alliance chief exec John O’Connell said: “Councils place an enormous burden on households through the often mind-bogglingly complex system of waste separation.
Bin collection is a key service taxpayers are funding, yet in large parts of the country it’s residents themselves responsible for much of the heavy lifting.
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